A grocer, Skinner retired at the end of the 1954 season, feeling the time away for representative rugby was harming his business.

He moved to Waiuku in 1956, playing for Counties. That year South Africa toured and after All Black props Mark Irwin and Frank McAtamney were injured, Skinner was brought back into the All Blacks for the final two tests.

It has long been told that Skinner was selected to "sort out" the South African props, though some believe the amount of rough play he was involved in have been greatly exaggerated.